I'm sorry if this chapter seems a little rushed. Though I had plenty of time during the month to write it, things have been busy during the first few weeks of school, and I haven't had enough motivation to write much detail into it. I still hope you enjoy it though.

Chapter 2: A Day In My Life

It's 4:32 in the afternoon. As soon as I was assigned off work, without heading home like I usually would, I changed out of my work uniform into my clothes, which were a plain black t-shirt and skinny jeans with sneakers, and start walking out towards the bus stop in the nearby park down the road. I only made it to the stop just as the doors were about to close, and after returning a smug look that the bus driver gave me as I walked on, I walked to the very back of the bus, sitting in my usual seat beside the window and looking out as the view outside begins to move and we drove away. After leaving the park and making a few stops to gather and pick up more passengers the bus soon drove onto the main road and into the intersection, making a trip to the city, where I was gonna get off and catch the subway to downtown.

As I was taking my phone out from my leather handbag and about to connect them to my earphones, a few seats down in front of me there were a couple of teenage boys who looked to be 17 years, one of them sitting in the backseat closest to me while two sat in front, peering down at the tiny phone screen and murmuring amongst themselves. The voice that was coming from the phone was not very loud from where I sat, but I knew what it was about as I was able to hear what the boys were saying to each other. "It's unreal." I heard one boy in the front, his voice sounding disappointed and sympathetic. His friend sitting next to him nodded to him in agreement. "I never expected All Might to retire like this so soon."

"I looked up to the guy my whole life," The boy in the back, whose back was the closest facing me spoke in between them, adding in. "I know that he's human like us, I always thought he was untouchable." I made a silent scoff and almost rolled my eyes hearing him say that. 'Goes to show not all heroes are like that. Not even him.' I thought this plugging in my earphones. Deciding to ignore them, I open my phone and opening my music playlist. Turning it up loud as I look out of the window next to me, watching the half-sighted scenery of the highway pass me by from my left eye with my mind lost in thought. Outside the bus, trees were blowing softly in the wind, and the warm glow of the afternoon sun shines down on my face as they parted through their thick leafy branches overhead.

The news they were continuing to talk about annoyed me, despite my loud music and scenery outside, I couldn't help but think about it too. Though, this news wasn't anything new to me that I've already heard. A few months after the news of All Might revealing his true identity, and defeating the villain All For One in Yokohama City, he announced his retirement, and the Flame Hero: Endeavour has made a new name for himself as the Number 1# Hero and new Symbol of Peace. Though I only ever met the guy briefly and saw him in some joint missions back in the day, the atmosphere around him was murderous, and so I made the effort not to confront him. Just from looking at him, you could tell he was not the approachable type, but at times when I see him on the news, I could sometimes see the change in him that everyone is talking about.

The bus came to a stop and being dazed out of my deep thoughts, turning down the music on my earphones, I saw that we've finally arrived at the local subway station. Everyone on the bus got off, and as I was just about stepped onto the concrete pavement, looking around the busy streets, I could see the entry into the subway was packed with people pushing through each other and walking down the stairs into the underground station. Flowing with the crowd, I enter the subway, making sure to mind my step travelling down the stairs and making my way onto the platform while being surrounded by others who were also waiting for the next train to come. My eyes wandered around aimlessly in a daze, looking at both ends of the tunnel I stood before, and on the white stone walls. Everywhere I looked, I could see spray paint covering over the old worn-out All Might posters on the brick walls. Some with x's over his eyes or face, and mosts with the words painted over and making the slogans I Am Here, say I Am Dead.

After getting on the next subway when it came, where I was practically squished by the crowding people of the evening, I soon got off at the next station that took me nearly half an hour to get too, and just barely enough time to push through the crowded train to get off before the doors closed. Exiting out of the subway entrance, I walk up the deserted streets that welcomed me. This distracts that was part of the city was abandoned and restricted to most citizens from entering, because of the occurring hero fights that happen around the area, and the rumours of villains hanging around the place. Passing through five different alleyways, which were located in narrow streets near bars and rundown hotel complexes, I soon reached my destination. Across the street from where I stood, though not very fancy, was the front entrance of my work. The sign above the shop, which was decorated with purple illuminated lights, had the club's name, 'The Singing Crows', that was also alongside the outline of a bird. Walking towards the club, I headed for the back door, which was in between another narrow alleyway. Fumbling around my bag and trying to find my key to open the door, my mind brought up the talk me and my parents had this morning.

'Quit my job?' 'Know what's best for me?' What am I? A child? Though I tried not to admit that myself; I was sort of acting like one. Ever since I got came back to my parents from Japan, I only wanted them to let me figure things out on my own. I know they only mean well when they worry about me and ask me to quit my job because it's dangerous, but I was a hero. I faced villains that are meaner than the alcoholics and thugs I serve and kick out of the club, and I needed to try building my life back up again from where I went down. I didn't need them to help me. I don't want their help. Finally being able to grab my key, which was a small rustic red key, I opened the door and walked into the locker room as I breathed out a heavy sigh and tried to brush away my thoughts."What's the matter?" Not noticing her from my blind eye, I turned my head in the direction of my co-worker, Kitten, who walked into the room while carrying a small crate full of beer bottles from the storage closet that was shelved with numerous bottles of whisky and other liquors. Kitten (which was a nickname she gave herself and whose real name was Kathy) had a quirk called "Cat", which gives her the traits of a feline; agile reflexes, night vision, advanced speed, and enhanced senses like hearing and smell. The only kind of cat-like features she has in her appearance are cat ears that sit above and match her light blond hair, claws that she painted to look like pink nails and bright golden eyes with thin pupils. Apart from that, she could pass as looking practically human.

"Nothing. I'm fine." I replied to her with a distant tone, making my voice sound clear that I didn't want to talk about it. I opened my locker and emptied my things from my bag, and as I was changing out of my shirt, Kitten was calling back to me in a playfully pouty voice as I hear her put the crate down on the table in the centre of the room separating the lockers and door to the club. "Are you sure~? Walking in with a sour look like that and a murderer's vibe, I can practically smell it coming off ya." I didn't answer, however, that seemed to encourage her more, and as I was slipping into my white dress shirt for work, (cause of course we have standard dress codes in a club), I could feel a wide smirk appearing on her face as I could hear her purr teasingly. She wasn't planning on leaving me alone now. A thing you should know about Kitten's personality is that although she's only a year older than me, she doesn't usually act close to how a mature adult would. She's like a child in preschool, (a kitten even) immature and sometimes too much for me to handle. Even now as I had my back to her, she lacked the thought to consider giving others their personal space. I could feel Kitten close, hovering over me as I could hear her soft purring behind my neck, sounding like she was only a few inches from me. I didn't flinch, and she then purred to me in an almost innocent and high-pitched voice. "What's on your mind?" I knew Kitten well enough that she wasn't gonna leave me alone unless I told her.

"It's my parents," I let out an annoyed sigh as I confessed grimly and feeling a little defeated. "they think I should quit this job and go to work somewhere else." Her purring seized, almost as if I pressed the off switch. As I finished buttoning my shirt, I turned to her who in return gave me a questionable glance. "Why?" Kitten asked me, as though she was trying to find the reasoning why that would make me feel grouchy, though to me she acted as if I am making a big deal out of nothing. "They're being paranoid." My tone of voice changed, and my words were more forced and pronounced clearer as I let out another annoyed sigh. "They make it sound as if I don't know what's best for me. They don't trust me anymore, probably never had since I joined."

"What's going on?" From the same door Kitten entered through, a sudden voice came into the room and my other co-worker John walks in. "Who said what about someone being paranoid?" I have known John for a very long time, and it was only thanks to him that I had a good word for me to work here. His quirk "Tattoo" gives him the ability to make his tattoos on his arm come to life. The only kinds of tattoos that I've seen of his are ones of daggers on both his forearms, a sparrow on his shoulder, a pistol on his thigh, and one of a rose on his chest. He can only summon life into his tattoos so long as they are on his body and to use them takes up stamina from his body. His appearance is just the same as any other guy with black hair slicked to the side by gel, except for his eyes with one brown while the other was nearly pale blue.

He looks between the both of us expecting an answer. As I was about to speak, Kitten beats me as she answers his question instead of me. "Jess said her parents don't want her working here." John's eyes widened, (of course he should be surprised) as his head turns to me. "What? Why? De qué está hablando Jess?" He asks in disbelief, his accent hyping up as he walks up to me and places both of his hands on my shoulder, and looks at me in distress. John's personality was one that I was pretty used to since we've known each other for so long. Apart from his habit to speak his native tongue whenever he was nervous, he was always someone who would put other's needs before his own but would also have the urge to know if we have problems we're dealing with so he could help. That's what makes him a good friend. Honestly, this was the kind of reaction I expected from someone who wasn't as childlike as Kitten. "I was just explaining that to her before you came in," I told him as I grabbed both his hands, and slowly placed them off my shoulders while trying not to laugh from his expression. "They tell me that I should quit my job here because they worry about me."

"Then maybe you should take their word for it." A new voice joins our conversation. Our boss Maurice, who had a serious but relaxed look on his face came walking into the room while holding onto his wooden cane with a silver handle. He usually helped us out on our shifts, so like John and I, he wore the same white dress shirt and a black vest with the bars logo of a purple bird. His eyes were just barely seen through his long scruffy brunette hair, and he scratched his stubbled chin as he speaks to me in a low tone and sounding a little tired. "Although I'm not saying our establishment here is unpleasant, I understand your parents' concern due to the amount of villain activity going on in the area." Maurice was probably someone you can compare to a bear or a wolf. For as long as I've known him, he was very calm and collected, and most of the time when I've seen him in a laidback vibe. Never once when I get into trouble with a customer or had to kick them out, he'd let me off the hook and act as if nothing happened. I don't know if he's not the most serious boss, or if he's just lazy. (Yeah, I'm gonna go with lazy…)

"It's not like I can't defend myself." I scoff my words out, almost wanting to laugh. Maurice shook his head disapprovingly as he gives me a defeated glance. "Yes, but that's not the point. It would be more of a problem if we got mixed up in some unwanted business or if we manage to piss someone off. Like a mafia boss or any supervillains." As he said that, I felt a slight pain in my chest. Though he does have a point in what he is telling me, him saying that I would be a problem to them made me slightly offended and hurt. "You know I wouldn't do something like that to you guys," I told them, not all trying to sound assuring to them since I was already grouchy. "Well, maybe not intentionally." John puts in, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "You haft to admit Jess, you do tend to have a short temper." I was offended by his words, and I almost wanted to hit him for that but realising that I quickly calmed down and just let out an annoyed sigh. "I do not," I said, my voice in a low mumble.

"You do." Kitten hummed this as she looked at me with an 'I know you too well' glance. "He's right." Even Maurice agrees too. He crosses his arms on his chest as he gives me a small smirk like he knows that they were right. "I can name multiple times when we had to both started and helped riled up a couple of disputes and conflicts. " He made it sound like a jokingly old memory. (Talk about public humiliation.) They all were all ganging up on me, but though I didn't want to admit they were right, I just shrugged and said to them grumbly in response. "They deserve it."

"You say that," John then said to me, his expression slightly fading as he gives me a half-smile. "But is it cause they deserve it? Or is it because you can't help but blame them for what they say?" I paused, not able to quickly answer his question as my mouth went dry. He's trying to do this again. Unbelievable. "I'm gonna start my shift." I didn't know how to change the conversation or to where it was gonna go, so having the one with the last word, I ended it as I closed my locker and turned away from them as I headed to the door. "I don't want to talk about this anymore." I could never stand these guys when I try getting to talk about my private life. Though they all already know, especially John, that most of the fights that happen around here happen because of how I rile them up, there was always a reason behind them that I never fully explained or liked to talk about. After having to retire from heroin and moving back to America, I could never like how people are talking about heroes. Whether it's a good or bad topic they're talking about, I would always feel sick and I'd find at least some way to get them to stop. Starting fights was probably my only option when it had started, and though I know it seems childish, as well as selfish, I thought it was the only way to get everyone to shut up and stop talking about them as if they were like gods. I didn't hate heroes, I despise them. They never considered the risk nor do they do their job because they care about other people's lives. They only care about their own. 'I was never like that.'

…But was I?

"One more thing Jess," I was only just about to make it to the door when I hear Maurice behind me speak in a serious tone, which made me stop and look back at him. The teasing face he had was gone, his eyes narrowed as they met mine, and he looked at me with a frown that had a 'you listen to me' expression. Kitty and John were beside him, though not saying anything, they both looked at him questionably as he continues. "Make sure not to engage, unlike when you did last time." I thought about his words for a moment while also thinking about what happened last time. I caused an uproar in the club that broke the disco ball and had to help pay them back with my check. It was a complicated situation at the time, that was when they first talked about how All Might retired. Though I was there and was the one who tried breaking it up before it got worse, it wasn't entirely my fault that the whole thing started. (Plus the men were pretty drunk, so the reasoning why they were angry with the comment I gave them and started the fight in the first place, didn't matter AT ALL). So I answered him with a low murmur, not sounding like I meant it. "Yes sir." With a final heavy sigh, I pushed open the door and headed for the bar counter to start my shift.

A few hours into my shift and so far nothing exciting had happened. Not many heroes or shady people stopped in for the evening, but just a lot of party kids and drinkers who were mostly shop regulars. It was packed with people regardless. People were hanging around seating areas while I was stationed with Kitten at the bar serving drinks and shots, while John was in the back sorting through the new shipment of liquor we just moved into storage. Turning my head to the TV that hanged on the wall beside the entrance and left to the bar, the news channel that we were on, started reviewing yet again the news story of All Might's retirement.

"Now we bring up our top story." As a new voice speaks and the face of a reporter appears on the screen, in the background behind her, was a crowd of other reporters and cameramen standing in front of, what I could recall by my memory, the gates of the school UA High. She continues as a small picture of All Might, one that was taken during the attack of All For One with him in his true form, appears on the corner of the screen beside her. "After the reacquiring news of All Might true identity and retirement from the line of duty, villain crime around the world has escalated drastically to 20%, which was a higher amount of serious crime occurrences than the previous year when All Might be working in Japan. Although there is great faith in the new Number #1 Hero Endeavour, many are still fearing for the future would proceed as more villains continue to arise from the shadows. The news of how All Might will proceed is not yet confirmed, but according to rumours, we assume that he will continue to be working as a teacher at UA High to train the next generation of heroes."

I was about to make a bitter comment to myself about the matter, but before I could think of one, I could hear Kitten sighing next to me and looking sorrowful as she also heard the news. "I feel so bad for him." She said this in a dull voice, her eyes looked to the cup she was cleaning in her hand, and I couldn't tell if she was trying to talk to me or not. Though not trying to hold back my reply, I spoke in a bitter tone. "He would've retired sooner or later anyway." Kitten looks up at me, her expression clearly saying 'How could you say that?'. She was a big All Might fan in the past, that much I know of, and it was obvious this offended her admiration of him. Feeling a little threatened by her stare, I continued trying to make my words seem less harsh than they already were. "The world is changing, there aren't always gonna be heroes All Might can win against. He's done his job well. We all have limits, and like us, he has his. He isn't immortal you know."

Her expression softened before she looked down to her feet with a disheartened expression. "Yeah. But…," Kitten's words trailed off with her thoughts as she doesn't know what to say. She turns away from me and moves further down the counter to refill some drinks to customers. I instantly felt regretful of putting my words more straight ward than they should. Maybe I shouldn't have even say anything at all, but it's not like I could care any less about who retires and who's still kicking. However, even I too sympathise with the changes that are happening now. (Firstly, let's face it; Endeavour is not 'Symbol of Peace' material.) For years All Might was a pillar of hope (so they claim), and with him gone, villains who were afraid to do wrong, are stepping up to the light and making a stand. It wasn't just Japan that was having problems with villains, but it was also everywhere. Here in Chicago too. I know that I cannot do-what-I-do anymore, but if I could agree on one thing about heroes, is that they will need all the help they can get to put the world back on its feet.

I suddenly hear snickering coming from a table at the back of the room behind me, not too far away from the bar table where I stood. I look over my shoulder, huddling together as they were drinking cold glasses of beer were three men dressed in black suits and metal chains, sitting on one of our round tables with some girls in cute tight dresses hanging around them. They were regulars at the club, and I've seen them bringing around girls and showing off their powers while acting all tough. Only that for real, they are just a bunch of gangster wannabes. I've fought many villains and crime syndicate operatives in the past alongside joint-hero missions, and these guys were far from the real deal though they all talk high and mighty. "Can't believe that the great "symbol of peace" is nothing more than a bag of skin and bones." One of the guys, who had long shiny blond hair say as he slouches his back against his chair and placed his feet on the table while eyeing the TV screen. His friend, who had darker hair and was wearing dark glasses, laughed and nodded in agreement taking a sip out of his cup. "Yeah, can't believe I ever looked up to the guy as a kid. He's nothing but an old man in a fancy super-man suit."

The third thug, who was wearing multiple piercings on his ear and had lime green hair, then chipped in laughing hysterically. (clearly by the bottle in his hand, he had too much to drink.) "With those scrawny arms of his, I bet he couldn't even land an actual sucker punch on anyone of us." Saying this he lifted both of his arms and shook them from side to side mockingly, and they all laughed in agreement. I stood there watching them while cleaning out another glass cup. 'Yeah, but I bet I would.' I think this to myself, feeling very disgusted about how they were speaking. Though they are right, and that I have met a few pros who were like that in the past, my belief towards All Might being a genuine hero, even from the state he is in now, I can't say that I hate him entirely. "You know, now that I see it, other heroes are the same kinds of fake-ass frauds as he is." I hear the lead thug say this as his friends and the girls around them continued to laugh. They quiet down when hearing this, and his comment also catches my attention as I try listening in without making it obvious. "What makes you say that?" A hear the voice, of the dark hair thug, replied to him while sounding a little confused by what his leader meant. The leader explained, "Heroes only care about money and fame. They don't give a shit about folks whose lives matter more than that. The only reason why villain crime is going up by 20%, causes heroes have gotten lazy when All Might started doing their jobs for them."

Hearing him say that, I kinda thought that made a good point (more or less). After losing All Might, who was reliable among the community to protect the peace, heroes who have done small jobs to help citizens in need and have taken their status as a hero for granted, now realise how much dependence on him over the years and have gotten lazy. However, saying that all heroes are like that made me want to hit him. Though I cannot back up All Might's case, few heroes that I knew, (myself included), though found our soul guide in life by taking a dangerous career in fighting villains, we still genuinely loved and took pleasure in helping the people we served and protected. He continued as he chuckled, "I mean, even Endeavour's a fraud himself. While he was in All Might's shadow the only kind of reputation he was making for himself was a death threat to anyone who stood against or tries to fight him, but now that he's the new top hero, he has to start putting on this 'nice guy act'. It'll only be a matter of time before he breaks and shows the world his true colours once again."

"He's no hero, none of them aren't. They're selfish, only caring about their image and not protecting people and saving lives like they're supposed to do. If anything, I'm glad villains are finally taking a stand against them. I think I'm a little grateful that that boss villain in the hood took out All Might. Gives the world around us a chance to see how heroes everywhere don't deserve the name for the useless shit they do." I nearly dropped the cup I was cleaning in my hand just as I was gripping it tightly while not trying to break it. 'That does it.' The conversation I was hearing now, was making me feel disgusted about what he was implying. They think they know what they're talking about, but unlike them who just make accusations at heroes just because they are not doing a good job, I would in experience know what kind of things are happening right now. Many heroes who have looked to All Might, have lost faith in thinking that the world would be a safer place without him, and though the most recent heroes I had met in my time had only chosen this career for the fame and money, some still wanted to be heroes because they loved and admired the work they do. They don't know that some heroes do work to get where they are today, nor do they know that many others do their best every day to make sure that they get the job saying that they're happy that villains are attacking or that what heroes do are useless was the very thing that made me finally gave in the urge to do something.

Making sure that Kitten beside me didn't see nor anyone else, Filling up a bottle of booze, I used my quirk "Shift" to erase the glass cup from my hand, and let it teleport above the group's heads. Specifically, the big mouth ring leader. "All heroes who think they could be like him are just a waste of—Ow! AHHHHHHH!" The cup fell directly on the ring leader's head just as he was about to make another comment. Booze dripped down his hair and clothes, making them stench even from where I stood as he spits out the beer he was already drinking. The girls at the table squealed, and his other two friends tried helping him dry off as they were both shocked by what happened. Some of the customers laughed, though not really certain what happened, but very amused by what they were seeing, and I couldn't help but smirk with satisfaction. "Who the hell did that?!" Everyone in the room immediately went quiet, but I wasn't able to hide my smirk as the three of them looked around and saw my eyes meet the leaders. I was a little startled, but he managed to have found me out so quickly as he shouted in my direction. "Hey, you!" Moving the girls out of the way, the three thugs got out of their seats and started walking towards me. Dammit. They approach the bar, only stopping a few feet away from in between the counter and me. While his two friends stood behind each of his shoulders, the loud-mouth and beer-drenched ringleader leans in, gives me an unpleasant look, and asks me in a low grumble like a growl. "You looking for trouble, woman?"

I almost wanted to laugh. He was trying so hard to act threatening, but I just couldn't feel it. I place the cup I was cleaning down as I turn to face them, crossing my arms over my chest. "That depends if you would still be talking about shit when it's not wanted here." I slowly said to him as I looked at the three of them wearing my best 'badass' face. (This was a face I wore if I wanted to feel like I'm above them. You know what I'm talking about.) Their response was silent, but the glares they had on me spoke louder than words. "Jess." From beside me, Kitten, who already saw what was happening, (and knew what was about to happen), comes over. She nudges my shoulder and gives me a worried look as if silently pleading with me not to start a fight. "What's it to you?" The green hair thug asked me, shoving a little past his leader and leaning into met my gaze as he raises an eyebrow at me. He had a strong reek of booze. "You should just mind your own business and let us say whatever we want. Do you care about the stuff we're saying about those frauds?" (Well it wasn't like I didn't. At this point, my feelings between heroes and with like or hating them are all over the place.) "No," I chuckled, finding the situation a little fun whilst trying to act serious. I then added in, "but I don't see how they are any different to you. Frauds? You're tooting your own horn as well as theirs. I've seen you three show up at this club for almost the past couple of months, you're all talk, but you have not brained when it comes to knowing what a real thug is. You and your pals are nothing but amateurs." All around the shop, the customers who heard the conversation, started snickering amongst themselves and taking enjoyment and interest in watching us. "Why you little—"

My eyes narrowed angrily, as his hand began to quickly engulf into a flaming fist. I knew what was coming, so shoving Kitten out of the way, I was able to teleport his body, making it transport just at a ninety-nine-degree angle to where the green hair thug stood as he threw his punch at him and not at me. It must have been hard, upon the impact to his forehead, he was sent flying across the room. He crashed into one of the walls, and though he was dumbfounded by what just happened, he and his other thug friend ran up to their colleague in assistance to help him up. Everyone in the shop, who was now made aware a fight was about to break loose, including the girls that were with the thugs hurried out of their seats and ran out the door. From behind me, I saw Kitten scrambling on the floor as she tries to get away from the bar. So making sure she did and giving her a bit of help, I quickly focused my quirk for her to be shifted into the locker room, where I knew she would be safe from harm's way. She vanished and was gone, leaving me to deal with the three idiot wanna-be thugs on my own.

(Just know, although it is the law for civilians to never use their quirks in situations like these, around this part of the city that rule doesn't apply so long as you don't get caught or snitched.) I had about sometime before Kitten would get help from the boss and John, but though I promised Maurice I wouldn't make any problems like last time, the feeling in my chest, a fiery one, convinced me otherwise. I never had to deal with customers at the club who used their quirks on me before, so the situation made me fired up and excited somehow. After they helped recover their friend, they stood up, all eyes turned to me with an enraged and villainess glares. I leapt over the bar counter, putting myself in a fighting stance as I prepared myself for them to be the first to make a move. I was lucky that they were regulars who showed up to the bar on occasion. Bringing girls in, they always showed off their quirks, making it a perfect asset in my favour since neither of them has seen mine before now. Fire… Stretchiness… Acid hands. I had the match in the palm of my hand.

Attacking from the left side, the man with dark glasses sends his fist shooting at me as it extends from his sleeve and clothes. I was able to dodge it when it came, but as I managed to duck, the green hair punk, who had the acid quirk, comes at me throwing acid-like missiles my way. I dodge a couple, then using my quirk, I teleport to the other side of the room behind them and mid-air kick his head and knock him to the floor before quickly teleporting back to the bar counter and landing right on top of it, while accident knocking down some glass cups. The other thug, who had the quirk to extend his limps, stitched an arm towards my direction. Only a few inches away from my face, I jumped from the counter, teleporting myself lighting fast to one of the tables across and throwing a couple of plates his way as if they were ninja stars. One hit his head and he staggered to the floor just as he back tripped over his green-haired friend. I smirked as the leader stared at them, and then looked at me with an enraging glare that screamed he wanted to bust me up. I took steps towards him as I used my quirk simultaneously to appear as if I were a ghost only inching closer. I could see the confusion in his eyes, and as he thought he figured out where I was gonna appear, as he tried punching for what he assumed where my head was, I quickly teleported behind him and with all my might, gave him a heavy sidekick in the ribs as he jerks in surprise and staggers himself to the wall with a hand on his side.

People would think, having been retired for the past 2 years, I would be rusty in a fight. Well obviously, I don't slack off or let that happen. One of the reasons that I had applied to a job like this, where I would be putting myself in a workplace for gang members and suck, was for me to practice my hand-to-hand self-defence, as well as improving my shifting skills teleport things when I was at home. From two years ago, when I was only able to teleport one person at a time by touching them, I can now teleport others just by focusing my quirk on them without making physical contact with their body. With this evolvement in my ability, I'm still unable to teleport to places that I have not seen before, but I have widened out my range of teleportation to 5 miles more than my previous range and I can teleport at a quick paste as if I was jumping from place to place. Apart from honing my quirk and improving it, I had looked more time to go to the gym to work on building muscle than when I did back in Japan. I knew that in cases when I won't be able to use my quirk willy-nilly, I would always have a backup knife on my sleeve as leverage.

Though I thought I was done, I was impressed that they recovered quickly. Getting up, each of them tried their luck to run at me or land a strike using their quirks. I was able to both dodge and avoid having to do any of that. It was a real workout, they kept on trying, and every time they got up again I kept on pushing them down. However, a sudden stroke of pain coming from my leg made me wince in agony, and it caught me off my guard and not able to see the heavy punch I got to the face coming from one of the thugs outstretched arms. I fall hard on the ground, and the pain in my leg docent subside. I look up, and with smug looks on their faces, I knew that I was cornered, and I wouldn't be able to stand up quick enough to dodge whatever they do next. I started to consider using my quirk to make a quick escape out of here, but as I started preparing myself for it, a bullet was shot. Sounding off with a loud bang, I could almost make it out passing in between the space between the thugs and me as a whirl of wind was felt where I laid.

"Enough." A sudden shout of a monstrous voice echoed and boomed throughout the room as the lights above our heads flickered violently fast as the air around us intensified. Everyone including me, freeze where we stood. Quickly turning our heads towards the source of the voice. We all stared into a murderous glare from Maurice's bloodshot eyes. Standing beneath the archway of the door to the backroom, blue lightning radiating and surrounding his body as he clenched his cane, and looking like an angry lion being disturbed from his sleep. He was not happy. Like the three thugs, I stared at Maurice in awe as the electricity around him began to almost shape itself into monster-like hands that could tear us up. Behind him I notice John's silhouette in the darkness, holding two of his tattoo pistoles in his hands, (which explains the sudden bullet that passed us). I also noticed Kitten clenching onto his shirt's sleeve from behind him, staring at us with a scared and worried expression. Just by looking at her, I knew that I made a mistake making the guys riled up. Maurice's quirk "Voltage" can allow him to control the electricity around him by using it off of other electrical items. He is very skilled at it, and though I have heard many things about his quirk, I've never seen it before up in action before today. I honestly had to admit, like the thug wanna-bees, I was equally just as shook up as they were. "Fights are not prohibited in this club. Not to regulars, and not even to employees." He said this in a growl as his eyes glanced away from the thugs and he glared straight at me. He was angry with me too, for certain. Just as I was about to say something back to him in the response to his glare in defence, I was abruptly cut off by the lead thug, who didn't notice or seem to care about Maurice's change of glance towards me. "Hey don't take this out on us, this chick—"

"Did I ask for your crappy excuses?" Maurice's tone almost similar to the sound of a dog's growl clenches his fists tightly as narrowed menacingly and the room's atmosphere turned dangerous as he breaths heavily. "I don't care about how this started, but I won't allow you to destroy my shop. Leave now, or you can never be allowed in here again. I will make sure that you won't. Do I make myself clear?" His eyes somehow became more monstrous, and I swore I saw a spark of lightning cast over them. I felt chills run up my spine, and just from hearing the other two thugs stutter, I could tell they were nodding back to him quickly. "Then get the hell out."As they scampered behind them and towards the door, the three thugs, including their stubborn lead man, exited cowardly out the door and leaving the empty club as a small smile rises from the corner of my lip. I was pretty satisfied with them gone, a bunch of pain in the necks they were. However, I think I smiled too soon.

"Jessie." Hearing Maurice call my name in a very strict tone, making it clear and obvious that he was still angry at me and not satisfied with the thugs leaving. "After you clean this mess, I would like a word with you in my office." He disappears through the door and walks away with his back turned to us, leaving Kitten, John, and I alone together in the empty and disastrous-looking state of the club. They both walk up to me. I could see Kitten was on the verge of crying, and though neither her nor John, who gave me a disturbed look, said nothing to me, their eyes spoke to me saying that made my stomach tighten with guilt. Crap. With the time I had in the past two years of working at the Singing Crow, whenever Maurice would ask one of us to have a word with him, it could usually mean a good thing or a bad thing. However, given what just gone down, I already knew that this was gonna be bad. John was right. They were right. I do have a temper, and I screwed up.

It was around 1 am when I finally reached home. All the lights were out, but I still had a spare key to get in while my parents were most likely asleep. I felt like hell. My eyes were heavy and my limbs almost wanted to collapse down at the entrance right there and sleep till morning. The evenings were always like this. I would be tired, and dead in the brain and would have only a handful of hours to sleep before the new day came. But tonight, it was more depressing because of what happened at the bar. And also the discussion between me and Maurice. Slowly making my way upstairs, I drop my bag on the floor, making it ket out a loud thump as I lifelessly walked into the bathroom.

I undress out of my clothes slowly and took out my uniform from my handbag, not caring too much what to do with them, I toss my clothes onto the marble floor and open the shower curtain to turn the knobs to the water. Once the water is warm and hot steam filled the bathroom space while slowly fogging the mirror, I step into the shower. I stand there for some time afterwards. I do nothing, only hanging my head low to the wall while the hot water was falling on top of my head. My stomach felt sickened as my mind continuously recalls the events of what happened in the late evening.

"Temporary leave?" I look at Maurice dumbstruck as I stand there before his desk while he was sitting down in this leather seat. Maurice's main office upstairs on the top floor was directly above where the club was in this small 3 story building. The office was big enough to live in it seemed, though it didn't have a bed, only a folding futon couch on the side of the room in front of a small coffee table. Maurice placed a closed fist beneath his chin as his elbow leaned against his dark oak wood desk."Yes," Maurice answered with a nod, his face looking at me dead serious with his eyes narrowed angrily like a hungry animal. "I've given you too many pardons, and this is the last straw. You again started another conflict with the customers, and not only that but this time you have made damages to the club that will probably take 2 weeks worth out of everyone's pay for it to be repaired. Although you are one of my most valued staff in this business right now with all the new punk showing up, I recently started asking myself whether or not I made the right call hiring you in the first place when you can't even get your shit together."

"Your starting to act as if I wanted these things to happen." I urge back to him defensively, not to raise my voice loudly at him while trying to explain as briefly as I could. "If anything they should've kept their mouths shut in the first place—"

"It doesn't matter what they were talking about," Maurice cut me off, rubbing his finger between his temples as if he were in pain of hearing my excuse. He takes his hand down and looks up at me with a distasteful look as if I were an eyesore. "that's not the reason why I'm giving you to take leave. You acted impulsively and you weren't able to keep your head cool. Your actions put this club and the safety of your co-workers at risk. Would you have taken responsibility if any one of us got hurt because of what happened today? Did you even think to consider that Kitten was scared of the fight you started?" I opened my mouth but dropped it as I didn't know how I could respond. I know what I did was wrong and I had made a bad step out of line, but I got Kitten out of the situation safely before it got worse, right? So why is he saying that I had to put her life in danger when I made sure that she was out of the way? Was he mad that I had to think about her still being in the situation and to have thought more about the outcome if she was somehow injured or in danger? "But—"

"Unless you learn to change that attitude of yours, I'm afraid that I can't let you chose to work here anymore." Maurice cut me off again, his voice turned stern and angered. At the same moment, I could feel the electricity floating through the air as the lights slowly dimmed and flickered. I now knew that this was serious, that he was serious. "As your boss, I remove you from duty till further notified." I stood there in absolute disbelief, my mouth almost hanged open. My fist crunched up into fists and I felt my nails sinking into my palms as they flared from the pain. This was stupid. Unbelievable. Though I was not permitted to leave, Maurice's face looked at me as if he was expecting some kind of answer. I had no words to answer for him, but with a heavy and shallow sigh, I stubbornly turned around and headed back slowly towards the door with my back to him. My chest felt bloated and my feet felt like they wanted to kick the door down, but I tried to calm myself down by slowly taking in a few breaths. I was angry, but more than that I felt embarrassed, thinking I was stubborn enough to fight because of a silly argument, I ended up making things worse for me. (This was one of the reasons why my feelings between heroes were bent both ways; although my beliefs about them, as well as their morals, were true, if my emotions got too attached to that, it would only bring me no good.)

"Please understand Jess," His voice reached my ears just as my hand was about to grab hold of the doorknob leading out, but I stopped just as he spoke to me in a calm and less angry voice. "Although I know well of your reasoning for not talking about it, whenever someone gets on the topic, you always lash at them practically ask them for a fight. It's getting out of hand. I ask you to take some time off to rest and think over why you choose to be angry at others. Those including heroes like you once were."

My body moving reflexively on its own, my hand formed a fist and punched hard into the tiled wall beside the shower knobs as I lost the feeling of the hot water scorching my head. Those including heroes like you once were. His words were like a record player that was repeating in a loop. I think back to how I had to unpack my things from my locker while talking to John and Kitten. Both of them were very quiet towards me. Though John was usually someone who I knew would forgive and forget, not once did his eyes turned to me and the only expression I saw on his face was mad. I did apologise to him of course, as well as Kitten, and I promised them that they would get some money back for what was going towards the damage repairs. Though John wasn't really satisfied with that, Kitten in a mature adult way, told me that I didn't need to worry about it and that I just needed time off before they could owe me anything. She was trying to be sincere, but from the shaken look on her face, I could tell Kitten didn't take today very well and was trying not to be mad about it. Though I have ticked off customers before, none of them ever bothered to use their quirk to attack us. The whole ordeal was scary for Kitten, and though she tried to put up a smile for me, I could see her hands were still trembling. "Dammit."

Getting out of the shower, my hair was wet and I felt a little dizzy. I didn't know what time it was, so walking into my room with a towel around my body, my eyes squinted towards the clock as I picked up and changed into my pyjamas. (which were nothing more than a black singlet and some cotton shorts). With my eyes adjusting to the darkness of the room from the dim light of the hallway, I was able to see it read 2:30 am. Crap. I took so long to get myself out of the shower, and as I dazed off time passed by without me realising it. 'Probably be a good idea to head to bed now.' I thought this to myself as I wrapped the towel around my neck. 'Might need to take my pills first.' Picking up a small container of pills on my bedside table next to my clock, I walk out the door, lightly drying my still wet white hair as I headed downstairs to the kitchen for a cup of water. The pills were pain killers that would help ease the pain in my injured leg. After recovering from the accident 2 years ago and got fired shortly after, I was given a prescription from the doctor who I was seeing (and who was also the one to give me the bad news on my condition). He told me that I would need to take these pains whenever I had trouble managing my leg or if it pained me to use it. Pains like what happened today while fighting at the club would appear almost suddenly for me if I ever tried doing any physical exercising like running or jumping, which was partly the main reason why I had to retire from being a pro.

I enter the kitchen. Without turning on the light to see, I walked over to the sink, setting the pills down on the counter beside me, grabbed a used glass cup on the side, and put it under the tap while filling it up with water. After doing so, I set it down, grabbing the pill container and unscrewing the lid on top. I take two, my usual dose of pills, and thrower them in my mouth as I quickly pulled the cup up to my lips and swallowing both of them down. I had just finished swallowing when suddenly I hear the loud ringing coming from the house phone, which hung against the wall just in the entrance. I stare at it blankly surprised and confused, thinking who in the hell would call this late at night? I walked up to the phone and looked at the dialling number written digitally on the face. It was an unknown number, and though I'd normally hang up and be done with it, I was very tired and without realising it, I pressed the call button. The only other thing that would have given me another reason to do so, was because I had a feeling this person would try calling the number again if no one answered. I pick up the phone. "Hello?" I spoke into the phone was a grumbling voice, not giving much effort to sounding polite since it was late and I didn't care who was on the other side of the line. The voice of a woman responded. Her voice spoke in another language, Japanese I recognised. "Hello? Is this the Allen residence?"

"Yes," I replied to her with a sigh. I didn't give the woman on the other end any sort of further information than that. I was however stunned as she then suddenly asked, "Am I speaking to Jessie Allen? Teleportation Hero Shifter?" My eyes widened in surprise and I almost felt my hand slip to drip my phone. I haven't heard anyone refer to my hero name in a long time, I almost had forgotten it, which was probably a good thing for me. Though in this situation I would be cautious about who would be trying to call me and use my old hero-name, to act as if they had gotten the wrong number or find more information somehow about why they wanted to speak to me, however, I couldn't think of anything to say that would allow me the opportunity to do so, and though annoyed by the sudden call and wary of the situation, I was also slightly curious by who this caller was. "Who's asking?" I spoke to her in Japanese in reply with an intimidating tone, trying not to sound like I was surprised as I was. In response, I could hear the faint sound of giggling. "What's so funny?" I was annoyed, as I was trying to ask them a serious question. She responded only moments later after her laughter slightly faded, and she sounded a little out of breath.

"You probably don't remember since it's been a long time," the woman explained to me, her voice acting friendlier, but also sounding teasing. "but I was friends with you back in UA. We sat next to each other in class, and you told me that my hero-suit, 'showed way too much skin that it should be illegal.' " Those words would be something I would say. Only for a few moments, do I then start to recognise her voice and remember a girl, who sat behind me in UA in the class I was in. She was eccentric, funny, a bit of a handful and a troublemaker, while also probably one of the weirdest people I ever met in my time studying in Japan. Her hero-suit was one of the things that made it unmistakable for me to not recognise. My eyes widened again in realisation. No way. "Midnight?"

"The one and only." She answered proudly to me like she was entering on a tv show or interview like she would in the old days. (Mostly interviews that were interested in her choice of hero-fashion). "I was afraid you have forgotten all about me." Though was a little dumbfounded, I tried acting like I wasn't too surprised. "How could I?" I asked her sarcastically, trying to sound more mature than she was. The last time I had heard from Midnight was a couple of months before the accident and before I flew out of Japan, and we hadn't kept in touch with each other since. "It's been a long time since I heard from you." When saying this to her I almost sounded sarcastic."Yeah," She agreed, not noticing, and somehow sounded a little more chipper in her voice. "Did you know I'm working at UA now?"

"Yes, I've heard," I responded, nodding along with her words and rolling my eyes to the side... It's not like I wouldn't already know since I have seen her on the news about UA in the past. I realise that a reason why she would be calling me, was probably because there was something she needed from me. (Because that was the kind of relationship that we both had back then). I didn't know what she wanted from me, but why had she now had to do it in the middle of the bloody night? With a sigh, I asked her, "Midnight, is there a reason why you're calling?"

"Oh, what? Am I calling at a bad time?" Midnight asked me, sounding very genuinely surprised and confused. I thought for a moment, and then I realised that there was a 15 hour time difference from here to Japan, so she was probably calling me in the afternoon where she is. (I forgot how she doesn't know these things.) "You are," I answered her with a sigh. "Though you're probably not aware of the time difference between here and Japan, it's past 2:30 in the morning right now."

"If it's that early in the morning, why do you sound like you haven't been asleep?" She immediately shot that question back at me, and I was not really in the mood to tell her that I just got off work after being made to take a temporary leave, so I just quickly answered, "I was down here for a glass of water before you called." Before she could answer back or ask another question, I quickly asked her again, "Can you tell me why you're calling?"

"Right, right, I'll get to that now so you can get your beauty rest." She replies with a chuckle, and I rolled my eyes like the way I use to whenever we spoke to each other back when we were in high school. I guess even now, it's still a habit I do whenever I talk to her. "Do you remember Aizawa from our class?" She's testing my memory now? After 7 years since we saw anyone from school? Though annoyed with being put on the spot, I try remembering as best I could, and it takes me a few minutes to remember that there was someone by that name in our classroom. I wasn't all very close to him, but I would recall seeing him always keeping to himself, being very unsocial towards everyone except his seat buddy beside him, Hizashi Yamada, who was way too enthusiastic and loud for his liking. I thought he looked to be an interesting guy, and after a while, I started having a few talks with him during the year of graduation. But what was his name again?

As if somehow reading my thoughts, Midnight's voice speaks in through the phone as I had forgotten that I was still holding it to my ear, so it gave me a bit of a shock. "You probably don't remember his name, but does his codename Eraser Head ring any bells?" The hero name, I did however recall clearly. The Eraser Hero dressed in black with the quirk to erase any others with a stare. He and I have only met on various occasions in covert and rescue missions during the first year after graduating from UA. He was never any more sociable than when he was in class, and he always had this gloomy air to him. We never really spoke or had any sort of conversations with each other that I can remember, but then again, I didn't even know if that was even possible. "Yeah, what about him?" I ask in reply as I stopped a coming yawn. Midnight continued, "Well you know he's also a teacher too, right? He and Present Mic, I don't know if remember—"

"I remember who he is." I cut into her mid-sentence, rubbing my fingers in between the bridge of my nose in annoyance. I was getting tired of this conversation getting nowhere with me only remembering a classmate who I haven't seen since before the accident and staying up at half-past 2 or over talking to my friend from over on the other side of the world. I picked up my glass of leftover water to take a drink after saying in a gruff voice, "Just get on with the point."

"Grouchy are ya?" Midnight's asked, her voice sounding teasingly and indicated that she didn't find any care in what I was trying to do. (At the moment she asked, I wanted to immediately reply, "You have no frickin idea.") I held my tongue, so we'd speed up this conversation along so that I could get to bed and sleep. So I listened for her to continue, trying not to get impatient than I already was. "They recently got married. A few weeks ago actually." I almost spat out the water I was drinking but ended up swallowing it hard down my throat. I didn't choke on my water, but only wheezed a little allowing myself to think. I knew that back in high school the two of them had been close, but I didn't know... It didn't shock me, but I guess it was that much of a surprise. Clearing my throat, I asked her, "Married?"

"Yeah, surprised me too." Midnight sounded calm and happy by my response (of course), and I had a feeling that was what she was expecting. "Anyway, they'll be going away on a trip for 3 months, and the Principle, who was very generous in suggesting it, was asking some of us if we knew any pros that would take the time to be substitute replacements." She paused for a moment, and I could tell she was trying to give an effect that would make me want to continue. Though I was impatient and very tired, gathering my thoughts and adding up on what she was saying, and I think I started to figure out where she was taking this. "So, I was wondering if you'd like to fly over and take the job." There it was. She waited for my response, but my mind just paused and I wasn't able to speak nor move my mouth. "Hey, Jess? Are you still there?" I could hear Midnight talking on the other line, and I realised that it had been a couple of moments that I didn't immediately respond. I collected my thoughts before I replied. "…Sorry, what was the question again?"

"Do you want to be a teacher at UA?" 'She can't be serious?' I thought this as I try to shake off a bit of the disbelief I was feeling. 'She must be making a joke right?' I asked her, almost forcing out a chuckle while smirking, "You're not serious." Midnight replied to me, though sounding chipper, I could tell that she wasn't joking. "This is no joke." My small smirk slowly faded as she continued. "I already talked to the school's principal and Aizawa. They're totally okay with you coming here as well." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. How in the world did this happen on the exact day that I just got fired from my job? It was just… unbelievable. "I don't even have a teacher's degree," I told her with a sigh, trying to figure out and get a better understanding of what was happening. "Why are you not choosing another hero— in your own country who is more qualified?"

"Well, I haven't seen you in a long time, plus I'm one of the only female staff aside from Thirteen." She replied, sounding a little disappointed to my question as if she was expecting me to say yes straight away. She continued to explain, "besides that, being a hero who was still young in their time, much less at the age of 19, you have given inspiration to others, that besides All Might in being a great hero. Aizawa agrees, and he too thinks that it would be a good opportunity for the students as well. Plus, considering the situation that is going on right now at the school, you would be a useful asset for us to work with." Useful Asset? So that's what it was. There probably wasn't any other greater reason for it though. Though it was true, I had made myself known to the public at an early age after graduation, I knew that I was far from being a 'great hero', unlike how All Might be. Though the money I got from it was nice as well as the fame, they didn't mean anything to me. People might have assumed that I couldn't wait to be famous so I could get attention, but the only thing that I did was what I thought was right; I wanted to help others and use my powers for something meaningful.

"I can't believe you," I grumble this underneath my breath, setting the speaker of the phone down on my shoulder before getting it back up to my ear and asking her clearly on the phone. "Midnight, did you even think about this?" She again replied, not sounding like she was making anything of a joke up. "I did." At her response, I sighed loudly as I looked to the floor annoyed. Had she forgotten I have retired? Why was she bothering me with this after all these years now? It was infuriating (she was infuriating), having to try to piece it together in a puzzle you barely even know the concept to. Me being a teacher was obscure, ridiculous even. I wouldn't last a minute in a classroom, and there's no way that the students would take me seriously, considering my current status to be qualified as a substitute for Aizawa. "Midnight, I'm a retired pro." I over pronounce the word retire to make it very clear to Midnight that she needed to think about what she was trying to do by asking me to take the job. "What does that title tell you?"

"It tells me that you were experienced." Midnight replied, her voice not even wavering with any hints of what I was trying to imply. It was like she wasn't listening to half of anything I was saying "You have plenty of free time to do what you want right? Then you can come to Musutafu and teach some of these brats a thing or two about what sort of techniques and stats they should know about starting their career in this line of work. Most of them have already fought villains and have worked with other pros during their internships, I bet that they would be more interested in learning how a previous student who attended UA was able to make her first debut after the first year of graduating. If you're worried about having a qualification record to become a teacher, Principal Nezu gave you the thumbs up to work here under invite without any of those other conditions. You'll be able to come back and we can hang out together with the rest of the gang like old times. Plus, in Class 1A you'll be working alongside All Might!" She continued, but my mind was not fully listening as my thoughts closed themselves off from the call.

I could feel the pressure building up inside my chest as it was getting hotter and unbearable to hold. Midnight, though she was just trying to do something good for me, she has no right in interfering with my life when I chose to leave it all behind. I don't need a hero to save me. I don't need anyone's help. They just don't get it. "Are you that thick-headed!?" I couldn't take hearing her ramble on, I shouted into the phone, my chest and throat screaming with a heavy feeling as I couldn't keep my voice any more quiet. "The reason why I moved back home was not just for recovery! It was so that I could get away from that life! I lost everything, I tried making a new life at home, but nothing has ever worked! Being a hero was my dream, but it was also the thing that made my life miserable up to this point! If you want a substitute for a hero course, you are better off asking a retired pro who is more crippled to retire like how All Might is!" There came no response on the other end. We were both quiet and I was breathing in and exhaling heavily as if I had run a marathon. I realised what I had said, and I noticed just how close I was on the verge of tearing up. I didn't mean to say all that, at least not like this. I was defensive, and I never wanted to admit it to anyone, not even myself, but being a hero was the only thing I had in life that made me happy to live. That night when it all came down, everything went wrong and I was never the same person after that. I don't think that I was ever truly content with how my life played out until now, not with work, or with my family. I was a mess.

I apologised, though my whole heart wasn't in it. "Midnight, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out like that." Her only response, "It's fine." Midnight's voice, though tried sounding understanding and unfazed, I could recognise the down tone in her voice as if she regretted the words she spoke. I wanted to hang up the phone just there and hope that she didn't call back, but after a few moments, I was startled as she continued without any hesitance in her voice. "Look, I've known you since high school. I was pretty much your best friend." I scoffed, trying to hold it in, I almost chuckle in response, "That's because everyone in the school knew that I was friends with you."

"That fact is irrelevant." Midnight perks in, sarcastically trying to sound offended. "I know what happened two years ago took a toll on you, and the others would never know how that feels, but just trying to run away from those problems and pretending to not be who you are or were won't solve anything. Even after he retired, All Might never stop wanting to be a hero. He's still teaching at UA, though not in the best condition then when he was when first joining, he still reprints as a role model for the students who still look up to him today. Being a hero or ex-pro is not about fighting because it's what you love, or putting others' needs before your own, it's about taking the risk when you know it's needed and making the world a better version of how you see it. A world that everyone can be happy and safe from the evil that threatens them." I knew what she meant. Back in UA and while being heroes, Midnight, I and everyone in our class wanted to be heroes. Though some of us did it for fame and money, like me and Midnight, we wanted this career because we thought this would be something that could make our lives whole, that it would be something that we can be happy to do for the rest of our lives. She then adds in, her serious tone changing, "Plus although you say you're a retired pro, I know you're not one to laze about. You depended on that power too much to let it go to ruin." I think back to earlier today when fighting those three young thugs. She wasn't won't wrong, and I certainly didn't laze about. I was surprised, about how Midnight had said that to me maturely when usual, she wouldn't even talk to me at all and ended the call. She has grown, in a matter of speaking. Not trying to say it out loud or meaning to say it at all, I silently spoke in a whisper-like tone, "Best friend huh?"

"What was that?" Midnight asks me suddenly, though hearing clearly what I said she acted like she didn't with a sarcastic tone. I was surprised, but I tried acting like I didn't say anything. "Nothing important." I coughed this out, but I couldn't help put on a small smirk. "Mmhmm~" As she responded to that, I could practically see her wide smirk teasing me. I then heard some muffling on her side of the phone for a few moments before she spoke to me again sounding a little disappointed. "Look I got to go, but I'll call back tomorrow (probably around the same time as now) to check-in. Can please, at least think about it?" I paused as I was hesitant to answer her question. I didn't know how to. I just got taken off work starting today, (which was almost being fired), my parents wanted me to get a new job, and now I'm getting an invite to be enrolled as a sub-teacher at my old school in Japan. Was this all staged or planned out for me? Did my parents or work had some way to call them? No, couldn't be. I never told John or Maurice about my school life being in UA, nor do my parents know anything about how to reach me. (However, it is odd that Midnight somehow knows my home number…) "Sure," I reply, not certain if that was the right answer to give. I can picture her nodding to my answer on the other line. "Alright, I'll speak to you later and—"

"Kayama," I spoke in cutting her off and paused for a few moments feeling hesitant before I continued. "…It was nice talking to you again." I tried not thinking too much of it by telling her this, I felt kind of bad for acting like a jerk, and though she was one of the most annoying people I know back in UA, she still is my friend no matter how long it's been. I hear Midnight chuckle lightly on the other side of the phone as if to say she felt the same way. "Have a good night Jess." She hangs up. My smile slowly fades, and I put the phone down before returning to the ditch to clean my cup and head back upstairs into my room. I get into my bed, putting a blanket over my shoulder, and getting myself in a position on my side where I would get comfortable. For a few moments, I turned in my bed, flipping my pillow a couple of times even to get it to feel right. Somehow, though earlier when talking to Midnight I was ready to pass out, now my mind didn't want to sleep. Or maybe I couldn't. Laying on my bed, I turned and stared up the ceiling, with both hands and the back of my head as I start lingering on old memories of UA as they appear unconsciously. Being happy to attend every class, to go out on my internship, and passing our provisional license just be the skin of our teeth. Days when I was younger, feeling free and adventurous, made me believe I could do anything if I grew up to be a hero. I missed that. 'Class 1A.' Though you don't hear many news stories that come from Japan in America, (apart from things having to do with All might), the topic of the new hero course class 1A had become a very well-known class due to their encounters with villain attacks.

'Aizawa.… he's teaching that class right?… All Might too?' Being curious and wanted to know if this, I turned on my side, where my bedside table was, and pulled out my laptop that was in one of the draws. I lifted myself and leaned up against my bed as I unlocked it. I headed onto my search engine and typed 'UA Class 1A'. The first couple of results that popped up on my screen were rows of videos and various articles that were of news reports that covered both stories of the U.S.J Incident and the attack on the Hero Training Camp, as well as the most recent incident with All For One. I clicked on one of the first few videos, which were of some of the battles and challenges in the UA Sports Festival. Class 1A is something else. They could look to be a class of very capable students with the potential for the battlefield experience. (Considering how they fought against actual supervillains) 'Interesting…'

I don't know how long I stayed up, as I clicked onto numerous articles and skipped from one new video to another, my eyes would widen in astonishment and a keen interest in each student individually, their quirks, and their strategies for thinking. (Though, the spiky hair kid may just be fighting on instinct.) Many of what I found was both interesting, and a little concerning. I would be one of those people who say that UA was doing a bad job protecting its students, but at the same time, I would be happy that UA has changed for the better, and even when the world caves in on them as they strive with new young heroes.

'They almost remind me of those days…' Thinking this while I watched a video of the cavalry battle, I could feel my mouth slightly turning into a thin smile. Memories of UA came flooding back to me. I do remember Midnight, as well as Aizawa and Mic being in the same class. Those were the days before the accident that made me happy to remember myself. I slowly remember, why back then I wanted to be a hero in the first place, and what all the training and fighting was for. I never wanted anything more than to be a hero... because it was a part of me I found on my own. These kids were no different from us, but they sure aren't pros yet just because they felt with a couple of villains. So this is the generation that they're teaching at UA.

End of Chapter 2

The next chapter will be posted in the following month.

(I probably forgot to mention this in my first chapter, I haven't watched the 3rd season of My Hero Academia when I first started writing this. However, during the time I was writing this chapter, I have already finished it! Please don't be mad if the storyline doesn't match with the series.) I don't know if I did a good job on this or not cause I might have rushed it during the final weeks of writing. Please be honest with me in the comments. (Also, my cousin and I thought that adding the Aizawa and Present Mic ship would be a good idea since we love the Stans on them XD)

*I have gotten so rusty this past month, I promise to do better! 😫

For those who are following my other story from Bungou Stray Dogs, please know that Part 2 will be published by the end of June. Thank you for reading and I hope you all liked it!